New 'blue light' driving rules?

Blaze Bear · New 'blue light' driving rules?

Got this in an email today, haven't heard anything about it. So has anyone got wift of any rumours about EFAD or blue light driving?

'It is the government’s intention to establish revised legislative standards for all emergency service drivers along with an assessment process that aims to ensure these new standards are maintained. The changes will be implemented through a revision to the existing Road Traffic Act. However, before the revised Road Traffic Act becomes legally enforceable, the government must issue a Commencement Order. This is not expected until late 2009. Until this Commencement Order has been issued, all of the existing Road Traffic Act exemptions remain in force for emergency service drivers attending incidents and/or undergoing driver training.

The Authority (LFB) is currently working closely with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), other emergency service responders and a Sector Skills Council to develop an appropriate ‘driver training’ standard that will ensure all Brigade drivers are compliant with the revised road traffic legislation before the new law comes into force. Once these new standards have been accredited the Authority will be in a position to confirm whether any additional driver training and assessment is required.'

Rob

tom30

Any idea, what the new "blue light" driving rules with be?

I had heard talk (although this is probably a seperate issue from the Road Trafic acts rule) of the government only allowing appliances go to shouts on the bell if it was a fire call or a serious special service incident and nothing else. Anyone know anything about that?

firebill

From the road safety act

section 19. Look at part 2 not sure if this is what they are talking about

19 Exemptions from speed limits For section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27) (exemption of fire, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits) substitute—
“87 Exemptions from speed limits (1) No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when—
(a) it is being used for fire and rescue authority purposes or for or in connection with the exercise of any function of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, for ambulance purposes or for police or Serious Organised Crime Agency purposes,
(b) it is being used for other prescribed purposes in such circumstances as may be prescribed, or
(c) it is being used for training persons to drive vehicles for use for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above,
if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.
(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply unless the vehicle is being driven by a person who—
(a) has satisfactorily completed a course of training in the driving of vehicles at high speed provided in accordance with regulations under this section, or
(b) is driving the vehicle as part of such a course.
(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about courses of training in the driving of vehicles at high speed.
(4) The regulations may include—
(a) provision about the nature of courses,
(b) provision for the approval by the Secretary of State of persons providing courses or giving instruction on courses and the withdrawal of approvals (including provision for appeals against refusal and withdrawal of approvals),
(c) provision specifying the maximum fees that a person may be required to pay for a course,
(d) provision for the training or assessment, or the supervision of the training or assessment, of persons providing courses or giving instruction on courses,
(e) provision for the evidencing of the successful completion of courses,
(f) provision authorising the Secretary of State to make available information about persons providing courses or giving instruction on courses, and
(g) provision treating courses of training in the driving of vehicles at high speed which have been completed before the coming into force of the regulations as if they had been provided in accordance with the regulations.
(5) The regulations may include provision for the charging of reasonable fees in respect of any function conferred or imposed on the Secretary of State by the regulations.
(6) The regulations may make different provision—
(a) for different classes of vehicle,
(b) for different descriptions of persons, or
(c) otherwise for different circumstances.”
New offences

Straight8

This new legislation is aimed primarily to curb the thousands of 'private' Ambulances that now operate throughout the country with no driver training at all. Anyone can start up an Ambo service with any old heap.

For those folks who have been in the job for a while you'll remember the old LFB system of drive for 12 hours off the bell, then you're ok to go on shouts! Just like that!

These drivers under the old system will, in all probability, have to do the newer EFAD courses to get them up to the new legal requirement.
Those senior drivers have been able to apply for an updated EFAD up to now, but I guess it will become compulsary.
I also understand driver assesment will have to be undertaken every few years to make sure you are still 'up to scratch'

Sounds like a gift for those that don't want to continue driving!

Straight8